Pokemon Sword & Shield recently saw the release of The Crown Tundra expansion DLC, which brought with it a bevy of new additions. From a new playable area to new regional forms of Pokemon, it added a ton of new content players and critics alike are enjoying.
Regional forms were introduced to the Pokemon franchise in Pokemon Sun & Moon and are a universally praised addition. Out of all of the Pokemon receiving a renewed lease on life, which regional forms make their original designs that much better?
10 Alolan Sandslash
The Kanto region is beloved for various reasons, but a glaring issue it had was that it contained an abundance of Ground-type Pokemon with cool designs, but little battle usefulness. Sandslash, the Mouse Pokemon, is such an example of a stellar design with wasted potential.
Its Alolan form traded the sole Ground-type for a dual-typing of Ice and Steel, while also making it better at physical defense at the cost of its special attack. Sandslash’s design also somehow was made even cooler, pun intended.
9 Galarian Mr. Mime
Mr. Mime has always seemed like a weird design, even for Pokemon. It recently had its moment to shine in the Detective Pikachu film, but even that 15 minutes of fame didn’t make it desirable among trainers.
Mr. Mimes’ Galarian form ditches the secondary Fairy-type alongside its Psychic typing in exchange for the Ice-type. On top of that, it gives Mr. Mime access to a new final form in Mr. Rime. It makes its design way less creepy, unless of course, someone is afraid of Jack Frost from the classic Christmas television specials.
8 Galarian Meowth
Now, no one’s going to sit here and act as though Meowth doesn’t have an iconic design, thanks entirely to the anime. The problem with Meowth is that it is just a Normal-type Pokemon and its evolution is rather boring. Meowth also happens to be the only Pokemon that received both an Alolan and Galarian form.
Meowth’s Galarian form not only made it a Steel-type but allowed an entirely new final evolutionary form. Perrserker is a brutal-looking Steel-type that finally embodies the intimidation factor Meowth has spent generations yearning for.
7 Alolan Ninetales
Ninetales’ normal Fire-type form is pretty capable in its own right. However, as Charizard is so popular, the Fox Pokemon never received much love. Its Alolan form changes its typing and makes it unique enough that it becomes a possible member of trainers’ main rosters.
The Fairy and Ice dual-typing and an ethereal design turn Ninetales from just another Fire-type Pokemon to a majestic creature worthy of everyone’s love and admiration.
6 Alolan Marowak
Though Cubone has seen its fair share of love and affection, its final form Marowak has been lost to time as an original Kanto Pokemon. Like Cubone, it normally just carries the Ground-type, which makes it a pretty straight forward battler with little to no strategic maneuverability.
The Bone Keeper Pokemon found new life in the Alolan region as it ditched that typing for a dual-type consisting of Fire and Ghost. While Marowak’s base stats may be the same, its new design gives it a refreshing opportunity to become desired by trainers.
5 Alolan Exeggutor
Exeggutor, known as the Coconut Pokemon, is a Grass and Psychic-type hailing from the Kanto region. It is one of the rarer cases among regional forms where its colors or shape change slightly, but rather it becomes a completely different silhouette that morphs it from a goofy creature to one of intimidating stature.
A Kanto native Exeggutor stands at 6 feet tall, whereas its Alolan Island counterpart scrapes the skies at 35 feet of height. In terms of abilities, it gains a bit more physical attack in exchange for some speed.
4 Galarian Slowking
Slowking is the newest Pokemon to obtain a regional form as it saw the introduction of its Galarian form in Pokemon Sword & Shield’s The Crown Tundra expansion DLC. Thanks in large part to the Pokemon films, Slowking has a gentle regalness to its personality that feels welcoming.
It’s Poison and Psychic-type Galarian counterpart feels much viler as the Cloyster seems to have taken control of its brain. These two forms give trainers the ability to choose if they want a king or an evil wizard by their side in the heat of battle.
3 Galarian Farfech’d
The Pokemon fanbase is quite vocal and an ongoing demand by that audience is the desire to see Farfetch’d finally receive some evolutionary love. For most of its existence, it has been nothing more than a weird bird Pokemon from the Kanto region that held a leek for some reason.
Not only did Farfetch’d’s Galarian Fighting-type version give it an evolution in Sirfetch’d, but it also made use of the leek as a helpful held item that was necessary to evolve the Pokemon into its most powerful and effective form.
2 Alolan Raichu
Raichu has always been more powerful than Pikachu, a natural thing for a final form. The problem is that thanks to the anime and Raichu being just an Electric-type, most people felt it was unnecessary to use a Thunder Stone on their Pikachu.
Alolan Raichu, introduced in Pokemon Sun & Moon, couldn’t do much about the anime issue, but it did help its typing. As an Electric and Psychic dual-type, Alolan Raichu makes a case for itself as it provides Pikachu owners with a stronger option that also includes battle versatility.
1 Galarian Legendary Birds
The new The Crown Tundra expansion DLC for Pokemon Sword & Shield recently released and its reception has been positive. Not only does it add a completely new playable area, but it brings with it a host of familiar, new, and redesigned Pokemon from the franchise’s past.
All of the legendary birds from the Kanto region received Galarian forms that changed both how they look and their typings. Zapdos may have seen a downgrade, but the other two have become a lot cooler and interesting.
NEXT: 10 Pokemon You Forgot Evolve In A Weird Way
